CREW secures funding for 2012-13
After protracted discussions, CREW has agreed funding for 2012-13 which will enable it to continue activities whilst negotiating further future funding. The funding is provided by the Department for Education and Skills and Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, with additional support for Andrew Dakin’s continued secondment as Deputy Chief Executive. Following a period of uncertainty, we will now use the funding to develop our activities and seek further matched funding from the Convergence Programme.
CREW and SUNY Student Collaboration produces regeneration Master Plan.
In 2011, CREW hosted a visit from 9 students from the State University of New York, (SUNY) Centre for Brown Field Studies. The students were resident in South Wales for four months and developed a regeneration master plan linking the Tower colliery site and Barry Docks in a unified regeneration plan which restored historic links between the locations. Centred on a willow production, bio-mass energy and industrial-scale greenhouse food production cycle, the master plan also links housing, leisure, tourism and heritage aspects of regeneration. The study visit allowed the students an opportunity to develop a live project in an international context and CREW is now seeking funding to develop a feasibility study which could see their exciting proposal developed as a significant contribution to regeneration in Wales. The master plan presentation is online at http://dl.dropbox.com
CREW appoints Dr Mark Lang and Richard Essex as Fellows
CREW has a clear aim to work in partnership with as many expert regeneration practitioners as possible. Recently, we have appointed the first two CREW Fellows. The appointment of Dr Mark Lang and Richard Essex each bringing extensive new skills to our team, is a significant development for CREW. They strengthen our core team at a time when we are moving confidently forward and delivering on our objectives of integrated regeneration in Wales.
Dr Lang, who will have a lead role in the organisation’s communications activities, as well as undertaking a research project on the governance of regeneration, has significant communications experience and holds a PhD in political science. Richard Essex brings a wealth of experience to CREW, with a distinguished career in planning and regeneration work in the UK and Europe. He is also the Coordinator of the Regeneration Skills Collective Wales. He has been working with CREW on the Low Carbon Skills Project over the past year and will continue to take this project forward and will also be helping to build CREW’s international links, particularly with universities and researchers.
CREW Fellowships are voluntary roles which enable experts to make a contribution of their time and expertise to the work of CREW. CREW aims to build a group of experienced regeneration professionals who can apply their skills and knowledge to the key regeneration challenges in Wales. If you are interested in a similar role please contact us at enquiries@regenwales.org.
Recent CREW Events
Cross border events: Bristol and Newport
In December 2011 and January 2012, we held two linked events to explore common ground between South East Wales and Bristol. In partnership with Creating Excellence, the South West Centre for Regeneration Excellence, the seminars explored current major issues in regeneration. The Bristol event, held in the iconic Tobacco Factory, itself a major industrial heritage regeneration project, explored the current issues of town centres and transport connectivity. The Newport event, in the new Newport University City Centre Campus, which makes a major contribution to the regeneration of Newport, explored low carbon retrofit and terraced housing renewal. Following considerable interest in the presentation on The Triangle housing development at Swindon, CREW will be arranging a site seminar there in the near future. Email enquiries@regenwales.org if you would like to receive notice of the event.
A future from our past: eco-museums, regeneration and economic development in Wales
On 7 February 2012, CREW convened a day seminar examining the role of heritage-led regeneration and its potential in Wales to contribute to local regeneration. In partnership with CISnet and Trinity St David University, the seminar received a presentation and masterclass from Donatella Murtas an international expert in ‘eco-museums’, the term used in Italy and wider Europe to designate a form of community-led heritage initiatives. Case studies were also presented by Alison Price of Copper Kingdom, Amlwch, Dawn Davies of Creation, Blaengarw and Nia Siggins of Hanes Llandadoch, St Dogmael’s. The audience also heard from David Anderson, the Director General of Museums in Wales, Lucy O’Donnell of CADW and Manon Phillips of Visit Wales. The forty delegates identified the considerable potential for locally led, heritage based regeneration projects and the event will be followed in late March with a further meeting of related networks in Wales to further promote the concept.
Sharing good practice: housing and regeneration
In partnership with WLGA, CHC, i2i and CIH, CREW held seminars in Swansea and Llandudno identifying key issues in the housing-led regeneration agenda. Delegates heard good practice examples of procurement practice (Steve Marshall, City of Swansea, Elin Brock-Jones, i2i), empty homes refurbishment (Julian Preece and Neil Prichard, Powys County Council), innovation (Alwyn Llwyd, Tai Clwyd) and innovative funding models (WEFO). Dave Adamson, CREW CEO identified the potential major role of housing organisations in delivering social regeneration which tackles the ‘triangle of poverty (housing, education and health). You can view’s Dave’s presentation here http://regenwales.org